Motor Racing Digest

Photo Credit: HHP/Alan Marler

Posted by: Dave Thompson, follow @phillyfan17

June 5, 2012

Winners

Jimmie Johnson – He may have been hard to recognize for some with his multicolor wig in Victory Lane, but there was know doubt who flat out dominated the field at Dover – Jimmie Johnson. The win tied Johnson with legends Richard Petty and Bobby Allison for most wins (seven) at Dover. The five-time champion is back on top of his game, which can only mean bad news for the rest of the field.

Richard Petty Motorsports - For the first time this season, teammates Aric Almirola and Marcos Ambrose each finished a race in the top-10 for RPM. Almirola took home a sixth-place finish for his second top-10 of the season. The addition of Mike Ford as crew chief is paying dividends for Almirola and the No. 43 team. Ambrose rebounded after a disappointing finish at Charlotte with a solid 10th place finish at Dover.

Kevin Harvick – Harvick had been in a bit of a slump of late, but a strong second-place finish at Dover had to put a smile on “Happy’s” face. With his average finish of 16th at Dover, a runner-up finish is a “win” for Harvick. For Harvick, it was just his third top-five finish of the season and his first in the last eight races. The second-place finish was his best career finish at the “Monster Mile”.

Losers

Kurt Busch – Busch blew a fuse on Saturday and lashed out at a Sporting News report, but on Sunday it was his engine that blew giving him a 24th place finish. For his actions on Saturday, NASCAR handed down a one-week suspension for Busch and extended his probation until 31 December.

Tony Stewart – A disappointing qualifying run put Stewart deep in the field (started 29th) for the start of Sunday’s race. With just nine laps complete, Stewart made contact with Landon Cassill starting a 13-car wreck the put Stewart’s car in the garage. His team’s hard work did get Stewart back on the track to at least salvage a 25th place finish.

Carl Edwards – Edwards and his Roush Fenway Racing teammates were among the favorites coming into Sunday’s race, but his day would not end well. After staring 19th, Edwards had made his way into the top-five and looking for more when disaster struck. Edwards car suffered a blown right-front tire, sending him into the outside wall. After repairs, he did return to the track to finish 26th. The disappointing finish dropped Edwards out of the top-10 in the point standings.